Photographic processing apparatus



Aug. 12, 1969 R 1 CHEN ETAL 3,460,456

PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 2, 196e s sheets-sheet 1 BROWN 8| MIKULKA 8| ROBERT F. O CONNELL AORNEYS Aug. l2, 1969: RJ, CHEN ETAL PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-$heet 2 Filed Nov. 2, 1966 /NVf/yros RICHARD J. CHEN NICHOLAS GOLD BROWN 8| MIKULKA & ROBERT F. O'CONNELL Arrole/vfys Allg. 12, 1969 RJ, CHEN ET AL 3,460,456

PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESS ING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 2, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 /NVE/VO RICHAR .C NICHO GOLD BROWN 8. MIKULKA UnitedStates Patent O 3,460,456 PHOTGGRAPHIC PROCESSING APPARATUS Richard J. Chen, Winchester, and Nicholas Gold, Arlington, Mass., assignors to Polaroid Corporation, Cambridge, Mass., a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 2, 1966, Ser. No. 591,455 Int. Cl. G03d 3/10 U.S. Cl. 95--89 7 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus for applying a liquid to an exposed photosensitive element. The apparatus includes a liquid applicator and support means for supporting the photosensitive element against the applicator with a minimum of contact between the support means and the photosensitive element. The liquid applicator includes a capillary slot having an opening on the front surface thereof, while the support means consists of a plurality of thin, filamentous elements each contacting the photosensitive element along a line as the element moves across the opening of the slot.

This invention relates generally to photographic processing apparatus utilizing a nonviscous liquid in the treatment of exposed photosensitive, image-recording sheet material and, more particularly, to a means for supporting andl advancing such-sheet material past an applicator for applying such liquid to such sheet.

Our previously filed, copending U.S. Patent application, Ser. No. 568,493, filed, July 28, 1966 and our application, Ser. No. 591,456, filed concurrently with this application, disclose a novel photographic processing apparatus wherein anonviscous liquid reagent is applied to a light-sensitive, image-recording sheet material to produce a visible image in a layer thereof. Such apparatus may include a camera, a document duplicator, or the like, in which the light-sensitive material is exposed. Such liquid processing reagents are generally highly alkaline and are confined within an applicator so as to protect the apparatus and the operator from the corrosive effects of the liquid and to preserve the quality and stability of the reagent itself.

In our previously filed application, the liquid reagent wasl shown as confined within the chamber and maintained at substantially ambient pressure. A capillary channel containing appropriate wicking material, such as polypropylene, conducts the liquid from such chamber to a capillary slot, the length of such slot being at least equal to the width of the area of the sheet material which is to be treated. The slot dimensions are such that an aqueous, alkaline liquid having a viscosity substantially the same as that of water will How through the slot by capillary action.

The sheet material to be treated is carried past the slot opening by frictional engagement with a backing roll which in our previous embodiment is shown mounted adjacent said capillary slot, the surface of said roll being essentially tangent to a front support surface of the liquid applicator container at a point near the opening of such slot. In the operation of the apparatus, however, it has been found that the surface of the backing roll and the front support surface of the applicator cooperate to form a capillary which causes the liquid to be drawn downwardly from the slot through the clearance space between the roll and such front surface where it may ultimately drip onto the face of the sheet material which has not yet reached the applicator for processing as well as on the other surfaces within the interior of the apparatus. Such action produces harmful contamination of particular parts within the apparatus and also of the sheet material which is being processed.

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In addition, a portion of the liquid material which is drawn downwardly from the slot adheres to the surface of the backing roll where it ultimately dries and cakes on the roll and its contaminating effect thereon interferes with the sheet-advancing operation. Moreover, portions of the liquid may be carried by the backing roll to the rear surface of the sheet material as it is being advanced, the liquid thereby staining and otherwise further contaminating the sheet material.

This invention, however, overcomes such disadvantages and discloses an improved land novel means for supporting and guiding the sheet material as it moves past the capillary slot opening of the liquid applicator portion of, the apparatus. In the invention a plurality of parallel very thin and generally flexible filamentous elements, such as formed by metallic wires or other materials forming -a wirelike structure, are each caused to contact the applicator section at a single point on the lower edge of the capillary slot opening. A 4backing roll is positioned below the wires t0 support and move the sheet material upwardly along the front support surface of the applicator, the sheet material then being caused to pass capillary slot between the front edge thereof and the parallel wires after which 4it ultimately moves to a suitable sheet delivery system including at least a pair of endless conveyor belts mounted above the applicator section.

Because each of the wires contacts the edge of the slot only at single point, no capillary action occurs to draw the liquid downwardly along the front surface of the applicator. Since the backing roll is moved to a position below `and away from the point where the liquid is lapplied to the sheet material, no liquid drips on to the backing roll, the sheet material or the interior of the apparatus, all of which are, thus, kept free and clear of liquid. Each of the wires is maintained n a resilient, or springlike, condition and all are kept under uniform tension so that the sheet material is thereby subjected to a substantially uniform pressure throughout its width as it passes by the applicator.

A more detailed description of such sheet-supporting and sheet-advancing structure for use in a photographic processing apparatus is described in the accompanying drawings with reference to the following figures wherein:

FIG. l is a sectional, elevational view of the overall photographic apparatus which utilizes one embodiment of the supporting and advancing means of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the liquid applicator section of such apparat-us constructed vin accordance with the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the frame on which the parallel wires of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 are affixed; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the backing roll which is used in the apparatus as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the liquid applicator section of such apparatus constructed in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6` is a perspective view of the alternative embodiment of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the liquid applicator section of such apparatus constructed in accordance with another alternative embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the alternative embodiment of FIG. 7.

In the sectional drawing of FIG. 1, the overall photographic processing apparatus is shown in the form of a document copying device comprising means for exposing successive areas of a combined image-recording and imagereceiving sheet, means for severing successive sections of the sheet, each containing an exposed area, from the remainder of the sheet and means for processing the successive sections of the sheet, including means for applying a nonviscous (e.g., viscosity of water) liquid reagent to one side of the sections.

The apparatus comprises exposure means including a window l in the upper -wall of the housing of the apparatus for supporting an original, eg., document, in position for exposure to light from lamps 12 mounted within an enclosed chamber separated from the remainder of the interior of the housing by a lower wall 14 and a. side wall 16. Light reflected from an original positioned on window 1t) is transmitted by a conventional objective lens, which is part of a lens and shutter assembly 18, toward a focal plane in the apparatus at which the lens forms an image of the original. The optical system includes, in addition to the lens of assembly 18, a mirror 20 positioned beneath the lens for reflecting light toward one side of the housing and means for supporting a lightsensitive, image-recording sheet at the focal plane of the lens.

A supply of light-sensitive, image-recording sheet material, designated 22, is provided coiled on a spool 24 in the lower portion of the apparatus behind mirror 20. The means for positioning successive sections of the sheet in position for exposure include a support plate 26 and a juxtaposed transparent plate located substantially at the focal plane of the lens. Sheet 22 is withdrawn from spool 24 and moved upwardly :between plates 26 and 28 by a pair of juxtaposed feed rolls 30 located beneath and adjacent the lower edges of the plates.

A rotary knife 32 and anvil 34 are mounted above and adjacent the upper edges of plates 26 and 28 for severing successive exposed sections of the image-recording sheet as each section is advanced upwardly from between the plates between the knife and anvil. In operation of the apparatus, a section of the image-recording sheet positioned between plates 26 and 28 is advanced, following exposure, upwardly past the knife into engagement with liquid applicator means and then through a sheet con- 'veyor system designed to deliver the sheets from the applicator to an exit opening in the housing of the apparatus and to provide a delivery period of sufficient duration to permit completion of the processing of the imagerecording sheet within a dark environment. The sheet delivery system includes two sets of endless conveyor belts 36 and 38. The belts '36 are mounted on support rolls 40` and 42, and belts 38 extend from support rolls 44, juxtaposed with support roll 42, upwardly in juxtaposition with belts 36 and around an enlarged drum or discs 46 and thence back to support roll 44 by way of support rolls 48 spaced around the periphery of drum or discs 46. The conveyor belts 38 which contact the side of the sheets to which the liquid is applied are preferably quite narrow in order to limit the area of contact between the belts and the sheet and, in the preferred form, may comprise conventional O-rings.

The housing of the apparatus includes an opening 50 through which the processed sheets are delivered and a pair of guides 52 extending from the opening upwardly toward the points of tangency between belts 38 and discs 46 for guiding the sheets from between the belts and discs downwardly through opening 50.

The liquid applicator of the invention, designated as element 54 in FIG. 1, is shown in more detail in the particular embodiment depicted in FIGS. 2 through 4 as comprising a lower portion in the form of an elongated container 56 and a cover portion 74, only the front sections of which are shown in FIG. 2. Such applicator is substantially the same as that shown in our concurrently led application, Ser. No. 591,456. In such last mentioned application, a capillary slot 62 is supplied with a liquid reagent from a reservoir (not shown in FIG. 2) via a plurality of capillary channels formed by wicking material -66 in a channel 68. Slot 62 can be closed as described in such concurrent application by distorting the front section of cover portion 74 through the twisting motion of a suitable torsion bar 76 by means not specilically shown in the gure but described more fully in such application.

Sheet material 22 is advanced upwardly along the front surface 60` of applicator 54 and passes through the nip formed by backing roll 70 and front surface 60 at a point where such roll is substantially tangent to the latter surface. Backing roll 70 is mounted below and away from the opening of capillary slot 62. A rectangular frame member 78 having a rectangular opening 80 therein has a plurality of parallel, thin wires 82 stretched across such opening as shown in FIG. 3. Frame member 78 has a slightly concave curvature relative to the opening of such slot so that each of said wires 82 is stretched under tension between two points to which they are attached, such as upper points 88 and lower points 90L on frame member 78, one end of each of such wires being attached via spring means 96.

Frame member 78 is mounted within the photographic apparatus by appropriately mounted blocks 86 xedly attached to member 78 and to a suitable frame piece (not shown) within the interior of the document copying apparatus. All of the wires lie in substantially the sarne plane in the particular embodiment shown, which plane is angularly disposed with reference to the plane of the front surface 60 of applicator 54 so that each of the wires contacts applicator 54 only at a single point at the lower front edge 92 of slot 62. Wires 82 ar'e mounted so as to press lightly against edge 92 so that the wires are very slightly bent at that point and maintain pressure against edge 92. The use of spring means 96 assures that such pressure will remain substantially uniform along the slot edge and, hence, throughout the width of the paper even should frame 78 become distorted in some manner.

As shown most clearly in FIG. 4, a plurality of slots 84 are formed in backing roll 70 so that wires 82 pass therethrough as backing roll 70 is rotated to move sheet 22 upwardly toward the slot opening. Sheet 22 ultimately passes by the upper portion of frame 78 to sheet delivery rolls 36 and 38 and it is subsequently carried to the exterior of document copying apparatus through opening 50.

As sheet 22 passes by and is held securely against the opening of slot 62, the liquid contained therein is applied to the front surface of such sheet material but no liquid is permitted to escape downwardly along the front surface onto the backing roll, onto other elements within the apparatus or onto the surfaces of the sheet material which have not yet been advanced to the slot opening. The sides 94 of rectangular frame 78 extend to a location beyond the ends of backing roll 70 so as not to interfere with its operation. Thus, the backing roll and other elements within the apparatus are kept free and clear of any liquid reagent and the liquid is applied only to the front surface of the sheet as it passes by applicator 54. The spacing of the wires along frame 78 is such as to support the paper against the applicator uniformly throughout the width of the paper without wrinkling or crumpling the paper as it passes thereunder. The pressure of the wires against the sheet material must be such that the material will not be torn as it passes thereunder nor should creases be caused to appear on such material. The particular selection of the appropriate wire size and spacing and the pressure of such wires against the paper can be determined for the particular sheet material being processed by those skilled in the art in accordance with the specific operation under consideration.

FIGS. 5 and 6 depict an alternative embodiment of the invention wherein the rectangular frame and wire elements are replaced by a coil member 98 wound so as to enclose a rod, or shaft, member 100, coil 98 being attachel to said shaft at a plurality of points 102 uniformly and linearly spaced along the surface of such rod. Rod member 100 is suitably attached to a frame member (not shown) within the interior of the apparatus so that each of the resilient, unattached portions of the Wire loops of coil member 98 is pressed against the edge 92 of slot 62 at a single point. Such a configuration provides a uniform pressure along edge 92 and supports the paper 22 against the applicator under such uniform pressure throughout its width as in the previously described embodiment of FIGS. 2-4.

A further alternative embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 7-8 wherein a block member 106 has the upper portions of a plurality of dilamentous, springlike, members 104 attached to a curvilinear front surface 108 thereof. Members 104 thereby form a plurality of substantially parallel curvilinear segments, the lower portions of which extend below block 106. Block 106- is conveniently attached to a frame member (not shown) within the interior of the apparatus so that each of the lower portions of segments 104 are caused to press against the front edge 92 of slot 62 at a single point thereof. Such a conliguration also assures that a uniform pressure is applied against the applicator and, hence, throughout the width of the paper, as required.

Other variations in the particular structure shown may occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the basic scope of the invention. Hence, the invention is not to be construed as limited to the specific embodiments shown and described herein except as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A photographic processing apparatus for applying a predetermined quantity of a nonviscous liquid reagent uniformly to each of a succession of areas of photographic sheet material comprising, in combination:

an applicator member having a front surface for supporting a photographic sheet;

an elongateed capillary slot formed in said applicator member and terminating at said front surface for supplying liquid from a reservoir within said applicator member to be applied to said photographic sheet material;

, means for moving said sheet relative to and across said capillary slot transversely of the length thereof to transfer said liquid from said slot to said sheet; and

means providing for a minimum of contact with said photographic sheet material and for supporting said sheet against one edge of the opening of said slot only at points spaced transversely of said sheet as said sheet moves across said opening.

2. A photographic processing apparatus for applying a predetermined quantity of a nonviscous liquid reagent uniformly to each of a succession of areas of photographic sheet material comprising, in combination:

an applicator member having a front surface for supporting a photographic sheet;

an elongated capillary slot formed in said applicator member and terminating at said front surface for supplying liquid from a reservoir within said applicator member to be applied to said photographic sheet material;

means for moving said sheet relative to and across said capillary slot transversely of the length thereof to transfer said liquid from said slot to said sheet; and

means for supporting said sheet against one edge of the opening of said slot as said sheet moves across said opening, said means comprises a plurality of thin, filamentous elements each contacting said sheet along a line as said sheet moves across the opening of said slot.

3. A photographic processing apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein each of said filamentous elements is maintained in tension and is mounted so as to contact said edge under pressure at a single point thereof, said pressure being uniformly applied by said filamentous elements throughout the width of said sheet material.

4. A photographic processing apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said filamentous elements are held against said edge with force sufficient to provide pressure against said edge without damaging said sheet as it moves between said elements and said edge.

5. A photographic processing apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said filamentous elements comprise a plurality of thin wires attached to mounting means and maintained in tension substantially in a planar configuration, such plane being angularly disposed with reference to said front surface.

6. A photographic processing apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said means for moving said sheet includes a roll means mounted adjacent said front surface at a distance from the opening of said slot suiiicient to prevent contact of said roll means with said liquid being applied to said sheet.

7. A photographic processing apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein said roll means has a plurality of slots through which said filamentous elements pass.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,251,264 8/ 1941 Berch et al.

3,201,275 8/1965 Herrick 118-401 XR 3,282,153 11/1966 Chen et al. 95-89 XR NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner F. L. BRAUN, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 118--401 

